Base-ball mask.



B. J. LAHAN. BASE BALL MASK.

APILIOATION FILED MAR. 29, 1910.

991,859. Patented May 9,1911.

54 lnvetor Attorneys BASE-BALL MASK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29,

Patented May 9, 1911.

1910. Serial No. 552,133.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. LAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Base-Ball Mask, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to baseball masks.

Baseball players when attempting to catch a fly ball, frequently throw ofi the mask. It sometimes happens that they trip over it in the excitement of the occasion. Moreover with some styles of mask, difliculty is experienced in removing them with sufficient rapidity. Finally where means are provided for shifting the mask onto the top of the head, the mask is very apt to fall backon the face during the rapid movements of the player and thus disconcert him perhaps at a critical moment in the game.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for permitting the mask to be easily and quickly thrown into position on the top of the head and there locked securely in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for holding the face piece securely in position upon the face of the wearer.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for limiting the downward movement of the face piece when in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the head piece so as to fit the heads of different players.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within 1 the scope of the claims without departing i from the spirit of the invention. In the accompanying drawings forming l part of this specification :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mask constructed in accordance with the present invention, the face piece being shown in position above the head piece and locked thereon so as not to fall forward accidentally onto the face. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the head band, with the crownof the cap removed, and a portion of the face piece connected with the head band. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts in raised and locked position.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawings.

Briefly outlined, the baseball mask of the present invention comprises a head piece and a face piece pivotally connected with each other whereby the face piece can be thrown upward into position above the head piece and there locked securely in place. The head piece preferably is in the form of an ordinary cap 1 having a metallic head band 2 formed with overlapping ends in which are punched the perforations 3 which are engaged by the bolt 1 having the nut 5. By removing the bolt t and overlapping the ends of the head band 2 to a greater or lesser extent, the size of the headpiece can be adjusted to fit different players. The metallic head band 2 preferably is provided with a sheath or cover 6 formed of leather or other suitable material. Slidable loop members 7 are mounted upon the overlapping ends of the head band in order to prevent the said ends from being bent out of position.

The frame piece of the improved mask may be of any suitable form and construction, and consists preferably of the ring member 8 with which the cross bars 9 are connected. The face piece is also provided with the usual pad 10, the eye shield 11 and the throat piece 12.

The means for securing the face piece or frame to the head piece preferably comprises a pair of arms or bars 15 and 16 connected with each side of the face and head pieces. The bars 15 and 16 preferably converge with respect to each other so as to form an approximately V-shaped frame, said bars being preferably although not essentially connected with each other in an integral manner as indicated at 17 to form a plate which is pivotally secured to the side of the head band 2 by means such as the fulcrum or pivot pin 18 through which extends the cotter pin 19. Each of the supporting members 15 and 16 preferably is detachably connected with the circular frame piece 8 by means such as the removable clips 20 which are secured in position by means such as the bolts 21. When the face piece is thrown forward into position upon the face of the wearer, the lower side bar or support 16 preferably is approximately parallel with the head band 2 as shown in Fig. 2. The supporting member 16 may if desired be angularly extended as shown. By providing the converging supporting members 15 and 16 connected with the side portions of the head piece, the face frame is prevented from wabbling upon the face of the wearer, and at the same time it is possible to throw the same readily upward into the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The means for locking the face piece in raised position, as shown in Fig. 1, consists of apair of resilient plates 30 and 31 which are secured at 32 to the head band 2. The upper supporting member 15 is formed with an extension 33 on which is mounted a lug or catch 34 having a beveled face as shown best in Fig. 1. When the face piece or mask proper is moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the beveled lug 34 passes in between the resilient plates 30 and 31, its sharp forward edge readily entering the space between said plates, thus forcing them apart. After the lug has passed between the plate, the outer plate 31 snaps in back of the lug 34 and thus holds the mask in raised position. XVhile this means of locking the mask in raised position has been shown and described, it is to be understood that any other means may be used for this purpose within the scope of the claims. lVhen it is desired to move the mask downward onto the face, the outer resilient plate 31 is moved out of engagement with the lug 34 and the mask is swung downward. By providing means as herein shown and described, for permitting the face piece to be swung onto the top of the head and there locked in position, it will be obvious that the necessity for throwing off the mask when about to catch a fly ball, and thus run ning the risk of tripping over the same, is avoided. Moreover the liability of the mask dropping accidentally onto the face is also prevented by the locking means.

The means for preventing the mask from settling too far down on the face, preferably consists of a flexible member or strap 10 which is in the form of a loop, the ends of the same being secured together by means such as the buckle 41. The loop strap 40 at its forward end engages the upper end of the circular frame member 8 and at its rear end is engaged with a ring 41-2 carried by a metallic loop 413 which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to one of the ends of the head band 2. When the face piece is in lowered position, the strap 40 extends from the rear portion of the head band, over the top of the wearers head and effectually prevents the mask or face piece from dropping too far down upon the face. The mask of the present invention is strong, simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive in construction as well as thoroughly practical and eflicient in use.

What is claimed as new is 1. A baseball mask comprising a head piece provided with a head band, a face piece, arms pivotally connected with the opposite sides of the head band and connected with the face piece, resilient members 0011- nected with the head band, and a projection connected with the face piece and having a beveled lug adapted to pass between the resilient members for locking the face piece in raised position.

2. A baseball mask comprising a head piece provided with a crown, and a head band having overlapping ends and means for detachably securing the ends together, a

face piece, a pair of arms pivot-ally connecte ed to the sides of the head band and detachably secured at their forward ends to the face piece, a projection on the face piece having a beveled lug, a pair of resilient plates mounted on the head band and arranged to be engaged by the lug to lock the face piece in raised position, and means for limiting the downward movement of the face piece.

3. A baseball mask comprising a head piece provided with a head band, a face piece, a plurality of approximately V-shaped members pivoted on the sides of said head piece and detachably connected at their forward ends with said face piece, a plurality of resilient members connected with the head band of said head piece, and a projection connected with the face piece and having a beveled lug adapted to pass between said resilient members for locking said face piece in raised position.

4. A baseball mask comprising a head piece provided with a crown and a head band having overlapping ends and means for detachably securing said overlapping ends with each other, a face piece, a pair of approximately V-shaped frames pivotally connected with the sides of the head band of the head piece and detachably secured at their forward ends to said face piece, a projection on said face piece having a beveled lug, a pair of resilient plates mounted on the head band of said head piece and adapted to be engaged by said beveled 111g to lock the as my own, I have hereto affixed my signasaid face piece in raised position, and a strap ture in the presence of two witnesses.

connected with the rear portion of the head band of the head piece and the upper por- EDWARD LAHAN' 5 tion of the frame of the face piece for limit- Witnesses:

ing the downward movement thereof. WILLIAM E. MEYER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing LEO ULRICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

